Ontario plans to strengthen the protection of animals
The Ontario government is sinking
its teeth into the issue of animal
welfare laws after accusations of
the improper treatment of animals
at Marineland. The government
plans to introduce legislation by
the spring that will create stricter
regulations to ensure the safety and
health of animals in zoos and
aquariums.
The province's community safety minister, Madeleine Meilleur, held a news conference on October 10 at Queen's Park to address the issue. "There is no place in our province for those who abuse animals," she said. "That's why our government is continuing to fight for the protection of animals by working with our stakeholders to further strengthen the legislation to make sure all animals can live free of abuse and neglect."
The McGuinty government plans to integrate a new plan that will take these concerns seriously and try and make a difference to these animals. The new project will propose legislative amendments to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act to improve the enforcement of animal protection measures in the act. The government will also explore the options for licensing zoos and aquariums in the province. Of particular interest to the Marineland protesters, there will also be new regulations put in place to help further protect marine mammals in captivity. The current rules under the OSCPA have been highly criticized for not mentioning marine mammals.
Friends of Captive Animals (FOCA) member Vicki Van Linden said, "The announcement from the McGuinty government is good news," but clarified, "we remain very cautious in our response. In 2008 and 2009, the McGuinty government promised to take Ontario's zoos 'from the worst to the first.' They did not deliver on that promise. What we Ontarians got in Bill 50 was an extremely weak bill that has made no significant impact on animal protection. If this government had delivered on their promise then, we would not be doing this all over again."
Ontario vowed to continue working with the OSPCA and other animal welfare partners to accomplish these goals. The government is also releasing the Animal Welfare Task Force's report, which was established in response to the OSPCA-commissioned Meek-Lesage Review into animal sheltering in Ontario.
Van Linden is hoping that more immediate care is given to the animals, "The OSPCA has the authority to direct the care of the animals at Marineland and they need to do that immediately. This means that the OSPCA can take over the supervision of the animals at Marineland and they do not need to seize and remove them to do so." She also added that currently in the U.S.A. there are aquariums that want to increase their populations of marine mammals and can provide facilities with better standards.
The province's community safety minister, Madeleine Meilleur, held a news conference on October 10 at Queen's Park to address the issue. "There is no place in our province for those who abuse animals," she said. "That's why our government is continuing to fight for the protection of animals by working with our stakeholders to further strengthen the legislation to make sure all animals can live free of abuse and neglect."
The McGuinty government plans to integrate a new plan that will take these concerns seriously and try and make a difference to these animals. The new project will propose legislative amendments to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act to improve the enforcement of animal protection measures in the act. The government will also explore the options for licensing zoos and aquariums in the province. Of particular interest to the Marineland protesters, there will also be new regulations put in place to help further protect marine mammals in captivity. The current rules under the OSCPA have been highly criticized for not mentioning marine mammals.
Friends of Captive Animals (FOCA) member Vicki Van Linden said, "The announcement from the McGuinty government is good news," but clarified, "we remain very cautious in our response. In 2008 and 2009, the McGuinty government promised to take Ontario's zoos 'from the worst to the first.' They did not deliver on that promise. What we Ontarians got in Bill 50 was an extremely weak bill that has made no significant impact on animal protection. If this government had delivered on their promise then, we would not be doing this all over again."
Ontario vowed to continue working with the OSPCA and other animal welfare partners to accomplish these goals. The government is also releasing the Animal Welfare Task Force's report, which was established in response to the OSPCA-commissioned Meek-Lesage Review into animal sheltering in Ontario.
Van Linden is hoping that more immediate care is given to the animals, "The OSPCA has the authority to direct the care of the animals at Marineland and they need to do that immediately. This means that the OSPCA can take over the supervision of the animals at Marineland and they do not need to seize and remove them to do so." She also added that currently in the U.S.A. there are aquariums that want to increase their populations of marine mammals and can provide facilities with better standards.
